Boat construction



w. c. GRAEF 3,124,814

March 17, 1964 BOAT CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 23, 1962 lll n INVENTOR. IP/mama C. GRAY-:F

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H1 5 FLH United States Patent Oiiice Patented Mar. 17, 1964 3,124,814 BOAT CONSTRUCTION Wilbur C. Graef, Duy Lane, Deerfield, Ill. Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,549 3 Claims. (Cl. 9 6) This invention relates to a boat and to a method of making the same.

More specifically, this invention relates to small boats such as sail boats, and the like, which may be subjected to the stresses and strains incidental to use in rough and icy water, as well as in general usage.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved small boat construction and method for making the same which provides a strong and durable boat which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture but is strong, sturdy and durable in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making a small boat construction which is relatively simple and may be carried out without the exercise of any special knowledge or skill.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a small boat in the form of a sail boat embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View on line 2 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded sectional view illustrating the structural components of the new boat construction in partially assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the wall construction of the new boat construction in assembled but partially incompleted condition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the wall structure of the new boat construction in assembled and completed condition;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG 5, but showing a modification of the wall construction of the new boat structure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modication of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 8 8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a further modification of the invention;

FIG. 1() is a fragmentary sectional view on line 10 10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 1l is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating another modiiication of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 12 12 in FIG. 11.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. l to 5, inclusive, of the drawings and is shown as embodied in a small sail boat 10 having a wall structure or body 11 which includes side walls 12, a stern wall 13 and a bottom wall 14, the construction of the side walls 12, stern wall 13 and bottom wall 14 being substantially the same, as will appear hereinafter. Hence, in the following description it will be understood that the wall construction described is applicable to all of the walls embodied in the wall structure of the new boat body shown.

Each of the walls of the new boat construction, including the side walls 12, is composed of a plurality of component elements in the form of plywood, or like material, of suitable thickness, such for example as 3/s or more, and in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, three thicknesses of such component plywood wall members are embodied in each of the walls including the side walls 12, as indicated at 15, 16 and 17 in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings. Similarly, the bottom wall construction 14 is composed of three thicknesses or structural component wall members in the form of plywood or like members 18, 19 and 20, and the stern wall 13 is similarly constructed.

The component wall elements or members 15, 16 and 17 of the side walls 11 have marginal edge portions 21, 22 and 23 respectively, and these marginal edge portions 21, 22 and 23 of the component side wall elements 15, 16 and 17 intersect with corresponding marginal edge portions 24, 2S and 26 of the bottom wall construction 14, as shown, and a similar arrangement is provided between each of the side walls 12 and the stern wall 13, and between the stern wall 13 and the bottom wall 14.

Matching holes, as 28 and 29, are drilled through the intersecting marginal edge portions 21, 22 and 23 of the component side wall elements 15, 16 and 17 and in the corresponding intersecting marginal edge portions 24, 25 and 26 of the component elements 18, 19 and 20 of the bottom wall construction 14, respectively, and flexible lacing means 311, in the form of nylon cord, or the like, is threaded or laced through these matching holes 28 and 29 so as to join each pair of component wall elements as 15 18, 16-19 and 17 20 into assembled relationship, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Holes 31 are drilled in the component wall elements 16 of the side walls 12 and holes 33 are drilled in the component elements 17 of the side walls 12 and correspending holes, as 32 and 34, respectively, are drilled in the component elements 19 and 211 of the bottom wall 14.

In the practice of the present invention the matching component wall elements 15, 16 and 17 of the side walls 12 are cut to suitable size and shape from plywood, or like suitable material, and the component elements 18, 19 and 2t) of the bottom wall structure 14 are similarly formed, whereupon the matching component pairs of wall elements 15 1S, 16-19 and 17 20 are laced together by the llexible lacing means or cords 31B to provide the joined component wall construction elements 15-18, 16-19 and 17 2tl, as shown in FIG. 3.

The thus interconnected matching pairs of component wall elements 15-18 and 16-19 are then arranged in assembled but spaced relationship, whereupon a suitable water-resistant iiexible adhesive material, as 235 36, is injected in any suitable manner, as by means of a pressure gun, through the holes 31 and 32, respectively, inv the intermediate component wall elements 16-19, so as to ill the intermediate spaces between the component matching pairs of wall elements -16 and 18-19 with a layer of the flexible water-resistant adhesive material 35-36 and thus bond the pairs of component wall elements 15-18 and 16-19 together into a strong and sturdy structural relationship. The inter-connected pair of component wall elements 17-20 are then placed in assembled relationship with and below the wall elements 15-18 and 1.6-19, as shown in FIG. 4, whereupon the assembly of the entire unit is completed by injecting a similar flexible water-resistant adhesive material through the holes, as 33 and 34, in the lowermost component wall elements 17-2tl, so as to provide a layer of the exible adhesive material, as 37-38, between the lowermost structural component wall elements 17-20 and the intermediate component wall elements 16-19, as shown in FIG. 6 and to fill the holes 33-34, thereby completing the construction and assembly of the new side walls 12 and bottom wall 14 of the body of the boat, the other walls of the boat body being similarly constructed and assembled.

Any suitable flexible water-resistant resinous adhesive material, having good structural and tensile strength properties, may be used in bonding the structural component wall elements together, as described above, and for the purpose I may use a water-resistant glass fiber resin adhesive, an epoxy resin, or the like.

It has been found in the practice of the present invention that the new boat body thus made is strong and sturdy and is able to resist the stresses and strains of rough usage including usage such as is encountered in rough and icy water, and the like, and that the waterresistant adhesive bonding material between the component structural wall elements intimately bonds the component structural wall elements of the new boat body together while also providing adequate water resistance.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings and those parts thereof which are the same as or similar in construction to parts embodied in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l to 5, inclusive, have been given the same reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference character a.

The modification of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, except that in this form of construction, an additional layer of fiexible resinous water-resistant adhesive material 39 is provided over the inner surfaces of the innermost component wall elements 15a- 18a of the side walls 12a and over the inner surface of the bottom wall 14a, and over the inner surface of the stern wall (not shown), and a further layer of similar water-resistant adhesive material 40 is provided over the bottom surface of the lowermost structural component wall elements 17a of the side walls 12a and over the lowermost structural component elements 20a of the bottom wall 14a and over the lowermost surface of the stern wall (not shown).

Another modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, where it is generally indicated at 39, and includes a pair of plywood wall members 40 and 41 having meeting marginal edge portions 42 and 43, respectively, provided with apertures 44 and 45, respectively, through which flexible lacing means in the form of cords 46 are interlaced to hold the wall members 40 and 41 together; it being understood that other and similar wall components of this form of boat structure are made in a similar manner. In this form of the invention a relatively thick or heavy coating of synthetic fiexible plastic resinous water-resistant adhesive material 47 such, for example, as any of those hereinbefore described, is provided over the inner surface of the intersecting marginal edge portions 41 and 42 of the component wall members 40 and 41 and a relatively thick coating 48 of water-resistant lacquer, or similar material, is provided over the inner surface of the wall members 4i) and 41 and over the relatively thick coating 47, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. To complete this form of wall construction, a coating 49 of the same or similar material as that used for the relatively thick coating 47 is provided on the outer surface of the intersecting marginal edge portions 42 and 43 of the component wall members 40 and 41 and a coating of lacquer or like water-resistant material 50 is provided over the entire outer surface of the wall members 40 and 41 and over the coating 49. The construction illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings provides a relatively cheap and inexpensive boat wall construction to a highly efficient nature.

However, to provide a somewhat more expensive construction than that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, I may use the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, in which those parts of the invention which are the same as or similar to corresponding parts of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 have been given the same reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference character 0. The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings provides a somewhat more expensive form of boat construction than that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 in that in this form of the invention I provide a layer of resin-impregnated flexible glass fabric cloth 51 on the outer surfaces of the component Wall structures 40a and 41a and between the latter and the external surface coatings 49a and 59a.

Another form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1l and 12 of the drawings and this form of the invention is adapted to provide a more expensive form of boat construction than that illustrated in either FIGS. 7 and 8 or that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l1 and l2 of the drawings, those parts thereof which are the same as or similar to corresponding parts of the forrn of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and in FIGS. 9 and 10 have been given the same reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference character b.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 11 and l2 of the drawings, differs from that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in that in this form of the invention I likewise provide, in addition to the layer of resin-impregnated glass fabric cloth 51 on the outer surface of the component wall structures 4Gb and 41b, and between the latter and the external surface coating Sflb, a similar layer of resin-impregnated glass fabric cloth 52 on the inner surfaces of the component wall members 40b and 41b and between the latter and the inner coating of fiexible resinous water-resistant adhesive material 48h.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved and relatively simple and inexpensive but sturdy boat body structure and .a novel method for making the same, and that the invention thus has the desirable advantages and characteristics and accomplishes its intended objects including those hereinbefore set forth and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A boat body comprising a plurality of substantially identical internesting hull sections telescoped together, each hull section including side walls, a bottom wall and a stern Wall, said bottom wall having edge portions abutting lower edge portions of said side and stern walls so as to define joints, each of said edge portions having a row of holes formed therethrough, and an elongated flexible non-metallic lacing means threaded through adjacent rows of holes at each joint so as to secure said edge portions together; a water resistant layer of adhesive material between adjacent hull sections securing said hull sections together, an inner layer of said adhesive material covering the inner surface of the inner most hull 5 5 section, ,an outer layer of said adhesive material covering inner and Outer surfaces, and said inner and outer layers the outermost surface of the outermost hull sections, said 0f adhesive COVefU'g the lyeTS 0f eXlble 'glass fbfladhesive material extending into said holes and conlpletely covering said1acingmeans References Cited in the file of this patent 2. A boat body as dened in claim 1, in Which said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Walls `are Composed 0f plywood. 1,690,936 Langen Nov. 6, 1928 3. A boat body as ydeiined in claim 2, in which said 2,183,017 Grant Dm 12, 1939 adhesive comprises a plastic resin, a layer of eXible glass 2,743,465 Vogel May 1, 1956 fabric impregnated with said Tesin covering each of said 2,941,216 Carlson June 21, 1960 

1. A BOAT BODY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL INTERNESTING HULL SECTIONS TELESCOPED TOGETHER, EACH HULL SECTION INCLUDING SIDE WALLS, A BOTTOM WALL AND A STERN WALL, SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING EDGE PORTIONS ABUTTING LOWER EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE AND STERN WALLS SO AS TO DEFINE JOINTS, EACH OF SAID EDGE PORTIONS HAVING A ROW OF HOLES FORMED THERETHROUGH, AND AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE NON-METALLIC LACING MEANS THREADED THROUGH ADJACENT ROWS OF HOLES AT EACH JOINT SO AS TO SECURE SAID EDGE PORTIONS TOGETHER; A WATER RESISTANT LAYER OF ADHESIVE MATERIAL BETWEEN ADJACENT HULL SECTIONS SECURING SAID HULL SECTIONS TOGETHER, AN INNER LAYER OF SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL COVERING THE INNER SURFACE OF THE INNER MOST HULL SECTION, AN OUTER LAYER OF SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL COVERING THE OUTERMOST SURFACE OF THE OUTERMOST HULL SECTIONS, SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL EXTENDING INTO SAID HOLES AND COMPLETELY COVERING SAID LACING MEANS. 